Valve stem



Jan. 21, 1941. A, KEEFE VALVE STEM original Filed Nov. 13, 1951 r f l ARTHUR KEEF'E INVENTOR BY 7717/ (SA/4W A TTORNEY 3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve stem tion I9 provides an annular shoulder 20 which 50 Patented Jaa-21, 1941 '2,229,379

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vALvE STEM Arthur Keefe, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The F. H. Watson Company, Jonesboro, Ark., a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1931, Serial N o. 574,683 Renewed @ctober 26, 1938 6 Claims. (Cl. 137-691) This invention relates to inner tubes for Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view showpneumatic tires and has particular reference to ing a portion of the base or attaching ilap of said improvements in valve stems for such tubes. valve stem.

Objects o-f the invention are to provide a flex- Figure 4 is a cross sectional view showing a 5 ible valve stem which can be manufactured at a portion'of an inner tube and illustratinga modi- 5 low cost, which Will be strong and durable and ed form with a valve stem operatively positioned which can be quickly and conveniently secured thereon. The valve stern shown, illustrating a to the tube. modied form of the invention.

`Other objects are to provide an inflatable tube In the drawing, the numeral 5 is used generhaving a flexible rubber valve stem provided With ally to denote an inner tube for a pneumatic tire 10 a iiat base adapted to be cemented or vulcanized which is preferably formed of relatively soft to the outer surface of the tube and to provide elastic rubber and which is provided with an inameans for reinforcing said base whereby the tion opening 6.

usual reinforced valve patch may be omitted and A valve stem constructed in accordance with l to thereby provide a more eicient tube which this invention is provided with an elongated iiat 15 can be more economically manufactured. base l, which is cemented or vulcanized against Additional objects are to provide a relatively the outer face of the inner tube 5. The base I soft, flexible valve stem which may be used on tapers from a relativelythick central portion to a the inner tube of a pneumatic tire and which thin edge portion. In the particular adaptation may be drawn into the casing in case the tube of the invention shown, the base 'I is provided 20 creeps into the tire or on the rim and the tube with a plurality of layers o-f fabric 8 and 9. The may be continued in operation without injury layer 8 extends in parallel, spaced relation to the to the valve stem or tube. bottom thereof and the layer 9 has a relatively A further object is to provide a rubber valve smaller area and is positioned in said base 'l in stem having valve parts detachably secured in parallel, spaced relation to the layer 8. 25 the outer end portion thereof and to provide a The numeral Il) denotes a rubber valve stem new and improved valve core which when used in which is formed integrally with the base 'I and combination with the above described stem will Which projects from the central portio-n thereof. be very eilcient and reliable. The valve stem Ill tapers from the base thereof A further object is to provide a rubber valve to a relatively smaller end portion. The numeral 30 stem having a bore extending axially there- II denotes a bore which extends axially through through and having an anchoring member vulthe stem I0 and coincides with the inflation opencanized therein at a point in spaced relation to ing 6 in the tube 5. The numeral I2 denotes an the outer end thereof and to provide said anchoranchoring member which is in the form of a cup ing member with a seat whereby a valve conhaving a bottom wall I3 provided with an open- 35 tainer may be threaded therein and securely ing I4 Which coincides with the bore II. held in an operative position in the end of said The cup I2 is provided with a groove I5 which valve stem. extends circumferentially therearound and the The above and other objects and advantages cup I2 is built into the body of the stem I0, in o are attained by the novel construction hereinspaced relation tothe outer end thereof. The after described and illustrated in the accompany, anchoring member I2 is provided with a cavity ing drawing wherein there isshown an illustrated I6, the wall of which is internally threaded and embodiment of the invention, it being undera packing Washer I1 is positioned in the bottom stood that the invention is not confined to the thereof. The bore II is enlarged at the upper particular adaptation illustrated and described end of the stem I0 to receive the valve container 45 and that changes and modications may be made I8. The valve container I8 is provided with a which come within the scope of the claims herereduced, exteriorly threaded, inner portion I9 llIlO appended. which is operatively positioned in the cup I2 and In the drawingzbears against the washer I1. The reduced porconstructed iny accordance With this invention, bears against the top of the cup I2 thereby form- Figure 2 is a central, longitudinal view showing ing an air tight joint between the stem I Il and the same operatively attached to an inner tube, the valve container I 8. The valve container I8 .a portion of the inner tube being shown in sechas a cylindrical, intermediate portion 2| and an tion with parts broken away to conservespace, outer end portion 22. The outer end portion 22 55 is enlarged thereby forming an annular shoulder 23 which bears against the upper end of the stem I0. The valve container I8 is provided with a cavity which extends coaxially therethrough. The lower end of the said cavity is in the form of a bore 24 which coincides in shape and size to the bore I4 in the bottom wall AI3 of the cup I2.

The intermediate portion 2l of the valve containerV I8 is provided with a cavity 25 which is of larger diameter than the bore 24 thus providing a shoulder 26. The outer portion 22 is provided with a cavity 21 which is larger than the cavity 25 thus providing an annular shoulder 26.

. which is threaded tened portions 34 which engage the wall The outer portion 22 is internally and externally threaded and an exteriorly threaded vvalve mounting plug 29 is operatively positioned therein. A washer 30 is positioned on the shoulder 26 and is held in position by the plug 29 downwardly in the cavity 21 in forced contact therewith. The washer`3l| and the plug 29 are provided with alined axial bores 3| which are of smaller diameter than the diameter of the cavity 25. A valve stem 32 extends longitudinally through the bore 3| and is provided on the lower end thereof with a flathead 33 which when the stem is in an upward position closes the bore 3| in the washer 30. The stem 32 is provided on the upper end thereof with flatof the bore 3l and retain the said stem 32 in a proper position in the plug 29.

The numeral 35 denotes a ball which is positioned against the lower face of the valve 33. A

coil. spring 36 is positioned against the lower portion of the ball 35 and is compressed between the said ball and the shoulder 26, thus yieldably holding the valve 33 inv a closed position.

A rubber cap 31 having a cavity 38 is detachably positioned on the end portion 22 of the valve container I9. The portion 22 is exteriorly threaded and the cap 31 is interiorly threaded to more securely hold the cap in position thereon. The lower end of the cap 31 projects downwardly and overlaps the upper end of the stem I0. The cavity 38 projects upwardly from the upper end of the valve container 18, thus providing a space for the upper end of the stem 32.

As shown in Figure 3, the base portion 1 is provided on the attaching face thereof with a layer 1a of plastic rubber and a layer of hollandor other protective sheet material 40 which is positionedover the plastic face 1a.

In the adaptation-of the invention shown in Figure 4, a valve container I8a which is similar to the container I8 is vulcanized in the end of the stem. In this adaptation of the invention, the anchoring member I2 may be omitted. In this modification of the invention, the reinforcing layers I and 9 are omitted from the base 1a :and the main body Illa of the stem is provided with a bore IIa which is similar to the bore II illustratedin Figure 2.

In applying the invention to the manufacture of new tubes, the flap 1 may be positioned against the outer surface of the tube with the bore Il in communication with the bore 6 and the stem I0 vulcanized with the tube 5 thereby forming a unitary structure.

In adapting the invention to a repair stem, the flap 1 is provided with a plastic face 1a, the 'layer of holland 40 is removed and the flap 1 .is cemented directly to the outer surface of the tube.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a flexible valve stem, the exterior surface oi which is entirely composed of rubber.

I claim:

1. A rubber valve stem comprising an elongated rubber body portion having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough from base to tip, an internally threaded annular fitting vulcanized in said body portion coaxially with said passage and spaced from the base of said body portion so that a flexible portion exists between said fitting and the base of said body portion, said tting being also spaced from the tip of said body portion, a tubular insert lining the passage between said tting and the tip of the body portion and having an inner end portion threaded in said fitting, and valve provisions carried by said insert.

2. A rubber valve stern comprising an elongated rubber body portion having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough from base to tip, an internally threaded annular fitting vulcanized in said body portion coaxially with said passage and spaced from the base of said body portion so that a flexible portion exists between said fitting and the base of said body portion, said fittingl being also spaced from the tip of said body portion, a tubular insert lining the passage between said iitting and the tp of the body portion and having an inner end portion threaded in said fitting, valve provisions carried by said insert, said insert having a threaded end projecting beyond the tip of said body portion, and a -cap engaged with said threaded end and having a skirt embracing the tip of said body portion.

3. A rubber valve stem comprising an elongated rubber body portion of generally tapering form from base to tip and having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, an internally threaded annular iittingl vulcanized insaid body portion coaxially with said passage and spaced from the base of said body portion so that a flexible portion exists between said fitting and the base of said body portion, said fitting including an external annular flange at its end toward the base of said rubber body and suiiiciently remote from the tip of said tapering body portion so that said ange is circumferentially surrounded by a substantial thickness of the body material so as to be effectively embedded therein, and an insert threaded in said tting and lining the tip end of said passage, said insert carrying valve provisions.

4. A rubber valve stem comprising an elongated r rubber body portion ofgenerally tapering form from base to tip and having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, an internally threaded annular tting vulcanized in said body portion coaxially with said passage and spaced from the base of said body portion so that aexible portion exists between said fitting and the base of said body portion, said fitting. including an external annular flange at its end toward the base of said rubber body and sufficiently remote from the tip of said tapering body portion so that sa1d ange is circumferentially surrounded by a substantial thickness of the body material so as to be eiectively embedded therein, said iitting also having an internal annular flange defining an opening of substantially the same diameter as that of the passage thereadjacent an insert threaded in said tting and lining the tip end of said passage, said insert carrying valve provisions, and sealing means between said insert and said internal ange.

5. A'rubber valve stern comprising an elongated rubber body portion of generally tapering form from base to tip and having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, an annular fitting vulcanized in said body portion coaxially with said passage and spaced from the base of said body portion so that a exible portion exists bebody material so as to be effectively embedded therein, the upper end of said litting being spaced inwardly from the tip of said body portion, a tubular insert lining the passage between said tting and the tip of the body portion and having its inner end detachably secured to said tting, and valve provisions carried by said insert.

6. A rubber valve stem comprising a rubber body of circular cross section having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough from base said passage having an enlargement at its tip end, a. tubular insert in said enlargement and projecting beyond the tip of said body, said inbeing enlarged beyond the tip of the body and providing an annular shoulder overlying the extremity of the body tip, the enlarged part of the insert forming a substantially flush continuation of the external surface of the rubber body, an annular fitting molded in said body, and means detachably securing said insert to said ttinz.

ARTHUR KEEFE. 

